Hi, Calvits!
This list has been quiet for a long time!
This was in the Alexandria, Louisiana paper. Somewhere at home I have an
article from the paper when he was captured during WWII.
Morgan
http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/OBITUARIES/80
111051/1023/NEWS17
Kenneth Leon Calvit
A World War II veteran and prisoner of war, he died peacefully at his home
in Baton Rouge on Monday, January 7, 2008, surrounded by loved ones.
Kenneth was 87, born November 15, 1920 in Alexandria. He enlisted in the
U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1940 and was sent to the Philippines,
passing through Pear Harbor one month before it was bombed. He was captured
on Cuyo Island on May 2, 1942, and was held in the Philippine Islands until
being transferred via Japanese warship in August 1944.
In Japan he was forced to work in a copper mine until his liberation in
September 1945. Kenneth was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, POW
Medal and Philippine Campaigne Medal. On his first night out of the
hospital, upon arriving in the States, he met the love of his life, Mary,
and they married three months later.
In the years following the war, Kenneth worked in sales for a variety of
companies in Minnesota, Kansas, Louisiana and Arkansas. He remained active
in veterans groups and regularly attended 27th Bombardment Group and POW
conventions. He also spoke many times at schools and libraries about his
World War II experience. Some of his most-cherished possessions were the
thank you letters he recieved from school children after giving a talk to
their class.
He is survived by a daughter, Kellie Calvit George, of Baton Rouge; two
brothers and sisters-in-law, Leon and Margaret Calvit, of Baton Rouge, and
David and Gretchen Calvit, of Minneapolis; sister-in-law, Ann Calvit, of
Alexandria; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Owen, Courtney and Austin George, all
of Baton Rouge; nephew and best friend, Brian Calvit, of Baton Rouge; and
numerous nieces and other nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty two years, Mary Calvit;
daughter, Barbara Calvit Rogers; parents, Leon and Ida Calvit; sisters,
Jean and Barbara Calvit; and brother, Harry Calvit.
The service was held on Friday, January 11, 2008 at the Rabenhorst Funeral
Home in Baton Rouge. Entombment was in St. George Catholic Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to St. Joseph Hospice,
8923 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or the Barbara Calvit Rogers
Scholarship Fund, c/o Manship LSU School of Mass Communication, 211
Journalism Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
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